
s Fxtft v 

Book . iG^" "2-"2- ... 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2011 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/havanaexpeditionOOgard 



THE HAVANA EXPEDITION OF 1 762. 167 



The Havana Expedition of 1762 in the War 
With Spain. 

BY 

Asa Bird Gardiner, LL.D., L. H. D., 

Secretary-General Society of the Cincinnati, 
District Attorney of New York. 



On the 1 8th day of May, 1756, Great Britain formally de- 
clared war against France. 

This compliment was speedily returned with the utmost 
heartiness by France, whose government saw an opportunity 
of attacking to advantage the Hanoverian possessions of George 
II., upon which it was believed, with reason, his affections 
were more strongly fixed than upon any other of the royal 
dominions. 

The grounds of the British declaration of war were the en- 
croachments of the French on the Ohio and in Nova Scotia ; 
the non-evacuation of four neutral islands in the West Indies 
as required by the previous treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ; and the 
invasion of Minorca. 

A condition of practical war had existed in North America 
for a considerable time along the borders between the English 
on the one side and the French, with their Indian allies, on the 
other, and the formal declaration merely brought into the prob- 
lem regularly organized combatant forces for regular military 
operations. 

This war, the most glorious ever conducted by the British 
arms — under the greatest of her statesmen, William Pitt — was 



•s^£ 



l68 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

entered upon with great heartiness by the American Colonies. 

Major-General James Abercrombie, who had arrived from 
England at New York in March, 1756, became Commander-in- 
Chief. 

The quotas of Provincial or Colony troops required for the 
campaign then begun were, 3,500 from Massachusetts, 1,000 
from Rhode Island, 1,000 from New Hampshire, and 1,250 from 
Connecticut, but this last named Colony voluntarily doubled 
her quota and sent 2,500 men into the field. 

South Carolina also furnished four independent companies. 

It is not intended in the limits of this paper to enter into the 
details of this War with France. It formed the school for the 
Colonies in the art of war for the subsequent Revolution. 

A little idea may be formed of the number of Provincials 
who served in this war under the British flag, from the fact 
that in 1755 Massachusetts alone raised 8,000 soldiers, about 
one-third of her able-bodied population. Baron Dieskau's de- 
feat in September, 1755, was wholly due to Provincials. In 1756 
Abercrombie had 7,000 Provincials, of which Connecticut raised 
2,500, — more than double the number required of her. In 1758 
Massachusetts raised 6,800 men, of these 2,500 served in gar- 
rison at Louisbourg, and 300 joined Wolfe before Quebec. 
There were 14 Provincial regiments under Major-General 
Abercrombie at Lake George and Ticonderoga in 1758, and 
the Provincials lost 422, killed, wounded and missing. 

In 1759 Massachusetts sent over 7,000 men into the field, or 
nearly one-sixth of her able-bodied population. 

Connecticut raised that year 5,000 and New York 1,000. 

Lord Amherst at the capture of Ticonderoga had 5,743 reg- 
ulars and an equal number of Provincials. 

The massacre of Fort William Henry, the bloody repulse 
at Ticonderoga and death of the gallant Lord Howe, the cap- 
ture of Fort Niagara, and Wolfe's glorious campaign against 
Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham before Quebec, are his- 
toric events well known to the student of American history. 

In all of them the Provincials had freely shed their blood, 
and sustained their disproportionate share of military burdens. 

In September, 1760, by the capture of Montreal and its de- 



7-3g 3oo 



THE HAVANA EXPEDITION OF lj62. 169 

pendencies, the whole Dominion of France in North America 
passed to the British Crown. The conquest of Canada was 
complete and the Colonies no longer had reason to fear hostile 
incursions from the North or West. 

Nevertheless, the war continued unbated and the Provincials 
furnished their quotas of troops which, during 1761, were em- 
ployed in garrison duty, and in the erection and repairs of roads, 
barracks and permanent works. 

At the close of the campaign of 1761 it was decided to attack 
the French West India possessions. 

Major-General, The Honorable Robert Monckton, Governor 
of New York, was charged with the military operations, and 
sailed from New York harbor with eleven regiments of reg- 
ulars and a force of Provincials, and having been joined at 
Barbadoes by Rear-Admiral Rodney's fleet and reinforcements 
making an effective force of 18 battalions, beseiged Fort Royal, 
which capitulated February 4, 1762, and ten days later the 
conquest of the whole Island of Martinico was effected. 

This was followed by the capture of the islands of St. Lucie, 
Grenada and St. Vincent. 

We now come to the War with Spain, and the particular events 
which this paper is intended to elucidate. 

For five years a general war had existed in Europe, and in 
1 76 1, France, which was much exhausted, made the first move 
towards a peace, which was seconded by the Courts of St. 
Petersburgh, Vienna, Sweden and Poland, and acquiesced in 
by the Courts of London and Berlin. 

Spain had, heretofore, maintained neutrality, but France, by 
reason of the close relations of the two houses of Bourbon, 
hoped, with reason, to secure her active intervention to pre- 
vent the total annihilation of French influence in the West 
Indies. 

It is not necessary to consider the points raised in the 
negotiations, the principle one of uti possidetis being urged on 
both sides, and vigorous exertions were, at the same time, 
made to capture as much of the enemy's territory as possible 
before the principle should be applied. 

While the negotiations were in progress in April, 1761, the 



170 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

efforts of the Court of Versailles succeeded and Spain inter- 
vened. 

This came around through the French Agent in London, 
M. Bussy, insisting, in a private memorial, that Spain might 
be invited to accede to guaranty the proposed treaty, and that 
the difficulties between Great Britian and Spain should be 
finally settled by the restitution of some captures made by the 
British upon the Spanish flag, and that Great Britian should 
give Spain the privilege to fish on the banks of New Found- 
land. 

Mr. Pitt rejected with the utmost scorn this proposition from 
an humbled enemy like France to negotiate through a power 
actually or seemingly in friendship, and returned his memorial 
as inadmissible and affronting to the dignity of the King. 

At the same time he directed Lord Bristol, the British Envoy 
at Madrid, to remonstrate with firmness against such unex- 
ampled irregularity. 

Already, however, France and Spain had privately concluded 
and signed a family treaty of date August 25, 1761, by which 
they agreed to support each other offensively and defensively. 

Mr. Pitt saw that the propositions submitted by France for 
peace were really intended to cause disagreement, and ac- 
cordingly gave an ultimatum. 

The Court of Versailles delayed their reply until September 
1, 1761, after the family compact had been signed, and Mr. Pitt 
had strong reason to believe that, had this reply been accepted 
by Great Britian, nevertheless the French Agent, M. Bussy, 
had secret orders not to sign. 

From this time events hastened apace. Eleven English 
merchant ships with Spanish pilots aboard were, while in Span- 
ish waters and within Spanish territorial jurisdiction, permit- 
ted by the Spanish Government to be captured by a French 
privateer in violation of the Law of Nations and then condemned 
in a Spanish Prize Court against the protest of the British 
Ambassador. 

The determination of the Court of Spain to come to an open 
rupture became thus manifest to the English people, both in 
Great Britian and in the Colonies. 



THE HAVANA EXPEDITION OF 1 762. 17 1 

Mr. Pitt saw that war was unavoidable and, in order to put 
England in a better military position to meet her new ad- 
versary, directed the expedition from New York under Major- 
General Monckton, which captured the French West Indies. 
TT /c.r was really begun by Spain, without formal declaration, 
by the before described flagrant violation of ;the Law of Nations 
and also by the detention of British ships in her ports and the 
restraint laid on British subjects in His Most Catholic Majesty's 
dominions and by a diplomatic fulmination of war, dated De- 
cember 25, 1 761, by the Spanish Monarch against Mr. Pitt 
personally — a most remarkable document well worth being 
studied. 

On January 4, 1762, His Brittanic Majesty declared war 
against Spain, and on January 16, 1762, the Most Catholic 
King returned the compliment. 

It is not necessary to describe to this audience Havana or 
El Moro Castle. In 1762 it was a place of the greatest import- 
ance to the Spaniards and called by them, not without reason, 
"The Key to the West Indies." 

It was the place of rendezvous for their fleets and treasure 
ships on their return from that quarter of the world to Spain. 
In fact, the whole trade and navigation of the Spanish West 
Indies, Spanish Main and Mexico centered there, and without 
that harbor could not well be carried on. Its conquest there- 
fore exposed all Spanish America to military operations of the 
English, and would, it was believed, practically finish the war. 
Havana then had about 30,000 inhabitants of all sorts besides 
its Spanish garrison, and was well fortified. 

Conquest in the West Indies had ever been a favorite scheme 
with English statesmen. 

Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, with far-seeing 
sagacity had essayed the capture of Jamaica in 1655 with a 
fleet under Admiral Penn and a land force under General 
Venables. 

Charles II., although not fond of wars, endeavored to frighten 
Spain into a compliance to grant England an equal share of 
commerce with herself in the West Indies. 

William III. sent three expeditions to the West Indies, one 



172 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

in 1689 of eight (8) ships and regiments ; a second in 1691, of 
eight (8) ships and a land force, and a third in 1692, consisting 
of fifteen (15) men-of-war, three (3) fire ships and 1,500 soldiers, 
but every one of these proved ineffectual. 

In the war declared against Spain on October 23, 1739, to 
the great joy of all Great Britain, an expedition was sent under 
the gallant Vice-Admiral, Edward Vernon, who captured Porto 
Bello with six ships, for which Parliament gave him a vote of 
thanks. Ten thousand dollars in money, 40 brass cannon, 
10 field pieces, and other valuable stores were the result of 
this expedition. 

In February, 1741, Carthagena on the Spanish Main was at- 
tacked, unsuccessfully, but the fevers of the country almost 
destroyed the besieging forces and forced the siege to be 
raised in May following, and the expedition then sailed for 
Jamaica. 

From here, in July, 1741, Vice-Admiral Vernon sailed with 
his fleet and remaining land forces to attack St. Iago, or San- 
tiago as now written, the then capital of Cuba, on the south- 
east side of that island. The troops were debarked and went 
into camp, which from the nature of the soil, vegetation and 
climate, proved very sickly. The difficulties at the mouth of 
the harbor of St. Iago were found so great that the fleet could 
not co-operate, and the siege could not be successfully prose- 
cuted, and on November 20, 1741, all re-embarked, to return 
to Jamaica. 

A melancholy interest attaches to this first Carthagena and 
Santiago expedition because of the number of American 
Provincials engaged in it and the terrible losses they experienced. 

Massachusetts furnished about 1,000 soldiers of whom only 
about 100 returned. 

Connecticut sent about 500 men of whom only about 50 re- 
turned. 

The other colonies furnished but few, if any, soldiers. 

Lawrence Washington, a brother of George Washington, 
was in this first expedition, and Mount Vernon was subse- 
quently named after Vice-Admiral Vernon who commanded 
the naval forces. 



THE HAVANA EXPEDITION OF 1 762. 1 73 

A curious fact appears in a dispatch from Admiral Vernon, 
when in Cuba, to the Duke of Newcastle, dated November 3, 
1 74 1, in which he said he believed "the principal motive of all 
the American officers engaging in the service was the hope of 
being settled in the West Indies and in Cuba preferable to all 
other places." 

Other unsuccessful expeditions were undertaken in that 
Spanish War, notably against Panama, La Guira, Port Cavallo, 
and even against St. Iago de Cuba, but the peace of Aix-la- 
Chapelle, in October, 1748, conditioned on restoration of all 
conquests, terminated that War with Spain. 

Great Britain had captured from Spain 1,249 ships, and from 
France 2,185, while Spain had captured 1,360 ships from the 
British, or in more. France had, however, captured but 
1,878 ships from the English, or 307 less, making in all 196 
in excess captured by the British. 

Some of the prizes taken from the Spaniards, however, were 
of enormous value and on the whole the balance in favor of 
Great Britain was estimated at two million pounds sterling. 

The losses incurred by Spain in the nine years' war, which 
thus terminated in 1748, undoubtedly rankled in the Spanish 
official mind and caused the before recited treacherous inter- 
position in 1 76 1, which compelled the British Declaration of 
War of 1 762. 

Upon this rupture with Spain, Admiral Knowles submitted 
to His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland a plan of an 
expedition against Havana. 

After considering it, Lord Anson, First Lord of the Admir- 
alty, submitted another instead, which was approved. 

Lieutenant-General, the Earl of Albermarle, a friend and dis- 
ciple of the Duke of Cumberland, was appointed Commander- 
in-Chief of the land forces, and Sir George Pocock, Knight of 
the Bath, Admiral of the Blue, was appointed to the command 
of the naval forces. 

The British fleet sailed from Portsmouth, England, March 5, 
1762, and was reinforced at Cape Nichola, the northwest 
point of Hispaniola, on May 27, 1762. 

It was determined by the British Ministry that certain of 



174 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

the American Colonies should also be called upon to contrib- 
ute to the expedition. 

For a long time the British Government had tried to recruit 
her regular regiments which were stationed in America from 
among the Provincials. 

At its urgent solicitation, Colonial Assemblies had passed 
acts giving bounties to such as would thus enlist. 

Great reluctance was, however, exhibited by the Americans 
to enlist in the regular service. 

The American was willing to volunteer for six months or a 
year for duty anywhere on the North American Continent, 
but not to go abroad. 

To induce him to enter the regular service, the " Royal 
American Regiment " was raised in New York. This regi- 
ment was, after the Revolution, known as the " Duke of York's 
Regiment," and is now the 6oth Foot, "Royal Rifles." It did 
not, however, when recruited in the Colonies, enlist more than 
a moiety of the Provincials, and was completed by English- 
born denizens. 

The next scheme of the British Ministry was to organize 
Independent Regular Infantry Companies in the Colonies, and 
of this class four were raised in New York and three in South 
Carolina, besides three companies of Rangers, all, however, on 
the Regular establishment. 

To overcome the reluctance of the Americans to engage in 
the "Havana Expedition," after their terrible experience of 
twenty years before, it was necessary to involve it in mystery. 
The war against Spain had been declared at Whitehall on Jan- 
uary 4, 1762, and was formally proclaimed in New York City 
at Fort George, facing the Bowling Green, on April 3, 1762, in 
the presence of the Council of the Province and the militia 
under arms. 

The proclamation was read by Mr. Banyer of the Council, 
and three hearty cheers were then given by the militia and 
assembled citizens. 

On the day before, April 2, 1762, Lieutenant-General Sir Jef- 
fery Amherst, K. B., Commander of the forces in British North 
America, from his headquarters in New York City, wrote to 



THE HAVANA EXPEDITION OF I762. 175 

Lieutenant-Governor Cadwalader Colden, the Acting Governor 
of the Province of New York, a remarkably deceptive letter, in 
order to obtain from the two New York militia regiments, then in 
Colony service, enough volunteers to fill the quota, then desig- 
nated by him, of the Province of New York to serve against 
the Spanish in the deadly climate of Cuba. 

The letter was as follows : — 

Sir:— 

By the Enterprize man of war, I have been honored with His 
Majesty's commands for forming a detachment of Regulars and 
Provincials, to be embarked at this place, on an expedition of 
the utmost importance. That I may comply with the King's 
orders as early as possible, I have fixed upon the number of 
Provincials to be employed on this service, and have been as 
sparing in their numbers as the nature of the service would 
permit, thd I am confident it will be very agreeable to them, 
since they will meet with every indulgence and will not be 
subject to the fatigue that they have gone through in the lo?ig 
marches informer campaigns, and that as soon as the service is 
effected, which cannot be of long duration, they shall immedi- 
ately return to New York. 

The number I am to require from your Province is 553 men, 
with one Colonel, one Field Officer, and other officers in pro- 
portion to the above number, and I leave it to you to form 
them either from one regiment or by detachments from the 
two, whichever you think can be soonest effected. 

These men will require nothing more from the province 
than has been usually given them for they shall be furnished 
with every requisite on their assembling for the expedition. 

I need not, I am persuaded, add any arguments to induce 
you to give immediate orders for hastening the formation of 
the above quota as a moment's time is not to be lost in putting 
His Majesty's commands in execution, and I have only to 
request that while this service is forwarding, care may be 
taken that it may not retard the completing of the remainder 
of the quota demanded by the King, as also furnishing the 
recruits for the Regular Regiments, as their services will be 



1/6 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

essentially requisite for the prosecution of a war wherein the 
Honor of His Majesty's Crown, the welfare of His subjects 
and the prosperity of His Kingdoms are so nearly concerned. 

I am, with great regard, 
Sir, 
Your most obedient, 

Humble servant, 

JEFF. AMHERST. 



General Amherst, as Commander-in-Chief, wrote identical let- 
ters to the Governors of Rhode Island, Connecticut and New 
Jersey, but prescribed different quotas for each. 

That of Rhode Island was, for example, 207 men, 1 Field 
Officer, 2 Captains, and the other quotas here in proportion to 
greater population. 

The specious and intentionally misleading character of Gen- 
eral Amherst's letter cannot be overlooked. 

He knew that the people of New England and New York, 
in consequence of the great loss of life incurred in the Santiago 
Expedition of twenty years before, had a horror of service in 
the deadly climate of Cuba during the rainy season, and conse- 
quently, in order to secure compliance, he descended to the 
arts of the recruiting serjeant in obtaining ''Gentlemen Volun- 
teers." 

He had been privately informed of the destination of the 
expedition, and that the principal portion of the regular forces 
had, probably, already sailed from England. He knew that 
the enemy's fortified works at Havana were deemed by mili- 
tary men to be almost impregnable and that the climate was 
deadly at the season when operations would have to be con- 
ducted. He knew also that no success could be achieved in a 
siege or assault without very great loss of life, and almost 
unparalleled fatigue and labor. 

Yet he calmly wrote to the Colonial Governors who were to 
furnish quotas, and said as an inducement to the Provincials to 
enlist, that the nature of the service would "be very agreeable 



THE HAVANA EXPEDITION OF lj62. 1 77 

to them since they will meet with every indulgence and will 
not be subject to the fatigue that they have gone through in 
the long marches of former campaigns." 

The New York Assembly, however, became apprehensive of 
deception and made official inquiry through Acting Governor 
Colden, to which, on May 20, 1762, from his headquarters in 
New York, Lieut. -Gen. Amherst replied as follows : — 

" I have just now your letter acquainting me of your having 
received a private message from the Assembly wherein they 
inform you that the obstructions to the enlistments arise from 
an apprehension which generally prevails that the 553 men to 
be embarked of the Provincial Troops in the pay of this Prov- 
ince are to be sent to the West Indies and to be compelled to 
enlist with the Regulars and therefore desiring assurance from 
me that the Provincial Troops in the pay of the Province are 
to be employed on the Continent of North America only, and 
that they shall be returned to the Province as soon as their 
service is over without being compelled to enlist in the Regu- 
lar Service. 

With regard to the apprehension of compelling the men to 
enlist into the Regular Service I need only refer you to my 
letter of the 2d of April wherein I requested the quota in- 
tended for the Expedition, and I should be sorry if anyone 
should entertain such an opinion of me that I would execute 
His Majesty's commands so ill as to make use of any decep- 
tions in requiring the men ordered on service. 

Their destinatioti must remain a secret for the present as I 
am not at liberty to divulge it, but by my forementioned letter 
you will see that the Provincial Troops are to return as soon as 
the service on which they are going is effected. * * * I 
can't help expressing my concern to find that there are only 
377 men of the New York Detachment as yet embarked, so 
that there are still wanting to complete 176 men, although 
both the Rhode Island and Jersey Detachments are complete 
and on board, and that I am informed the quota demanded 
from Connecticut is also embarked and I expect them here 
hourly." 



178 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

General Amherst, it will be perceived, was not very frank in 
his latest communication and intentionally evaded the assur- 
ance asked for by Governor Colden that the Provincials were 
to be employed only on the Continent of North America. 

Judging from this correspondence, the conclusion is una- 
voidable that the Provincial Forces who went on this Havana 
Expedition of 1762, did not know where they were going and had 
no idea they were to be employed in the Spanish West Indies. 

General Amherst tried to impress provisions in New York 
for the expedition at market rates and secured an impress war- 
rant from Governor Colden and the Council, but certain citi- 
zens sturdily refused compliance. Among these were Nathan- 
iel Marston, Robert Rich, John Ray, John Provoost, Robert 
Townshend and John Berrian. 

Attorney-General Kempe of the Province of New York was 
appealed to by the Governor, but in a reply dated April 18, 
1762, said he could find no law authorizing such impress. 

All the Colonies (Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and 
New Jersey) voted bounties or supplies for those who should 
enlist. 

New York voted, on May 21, 1762, forty shillings bounty to 
each man. 

At this time all these Colonies had actually in service and 
under pay very heavy quotas in proportion to their population 
and ability. 

The quota of New York for the year 1762 was 1,787 officers 
and men, who were organized into Provincial regiments. In 
addition to these the New York Assembly voted bounties of 
£10 to each of the 479 men who had enlisted in the Province 
in the regular regiments. 

The only wonder is, considering the population and re- 
sources of these American Colonies, where they found enough 
available able-bodied men to meet these continued requisitions 
of the British Ministry. 

They were, however, deadly in earnest and appreciated much 
more keenly than did the rural Englishman on his farm or 
estate in England what a war with France and Spain meant to 
the Colonies. 



THE HAVANA EXPEDITION OF 1 762. 1 79 

On March 5, 1762, Admiral Sir George Pocock sailed with 
his fleet of five ships of the Line from Portsmouth, England, 
convoying 30 transports containing the regular land forces 
under the Earl of Albemarle, besides 19 store or commissariat 
ships and eight ships loaded with artillery and military stores. 

Six days later chase was given to a large French merchant 
ship, which was overtaken and made prize. She had a crew of 
230 men, and was laden with coffee and pepper. 

A violent storm separated the fleet, but in April they were 
all reunited in Barbadoes, from whence they went to Martinico 
and found additional troops. 

Here the army was divided into five Brigades. A battalion 
of Light Infantry and a battalion of Grenadiers were placed 
under Colonel Sir Guy Carleton who, twenty years later, com- 
manded the British army in New York. 

Many names appear in this list who subsequently served 
against the Americans in the War of the Revolution. 

Sir William Howe who subsequently commanded at "Bran- 
dywine" and "Germantown" was the Adjutant-General and, 
of course, became well known to many of the Provincial 
officers. 

The fleet, having been reinforced in the West Indies, con- 
sisted of 19 ships of the line, 18 frigates and three bomb- 
ketches. 

In Havana Harbor the Spaniards had 12 ships of the line 
and three frigates. 

Moro Castle, the principal fortification, was defended by 154 
guns and 11 mortars. 

The total effective regular Spanish forces at Havana, in- 
cluding soldiers, sailors and marines, amounted to 13,610. 
These, with 14,000 militia, including people of color, raised the 
total force for defense to 27,610. 

The British began the siege with 12,041 effective regular 
troops, exclusive of the American Provincials who afterward 
arrived. 

This effective force included a company of negroes raised 
for the campaign, in Jamaica. 

The employment of blacks in a military capacity was thus 



l80 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

found to be satisfactory. Subsequently Count D'Estaing had 
a battalion of mulattoes and free negroes in the French contin- 
gent at the siege of Savannah in 1779, and the Continental 
Congress authorized during the Revolution the raising of three 
regiments in the South. 

Many negroes, it may be remarked, were also found during 
our Revolution serving in the ranks of the Continental regi- 
ments from Rhode Island, Virginia and other States. 

On May 6, 1762, Admiral Sir George Pocock sailed from 
Martinico, and on June 7th the whole army was landed without 
opposition on the Island of Cuba, about six miles to the east- 
ward of Moro Castle. 

In a contemporary journal of these operations, it is recorded 
as follows : — 

"June 11, Colonel Guy Carleton attacked and took posses- 
sion of the heights of the Cavannas where the enemy had cleared 
away some ground, intending a redoubt. 

These heights partly commanded the Moro, but entirely the 
town and harbor. This attack was conducted with that skill 
and bravery which Colonel Carleton has manifested on many 
occasions, and the loss he had in the attack is scarce to be 
mentioned." 

Why the Spaniards should have neglected this important 
point it is now impossible to say. 

Next day, June 12, 1762, the Siege of the Moro was begun. 

Meanwhile the enemy had been vigorously strengthening 
their works and defending the entrance to the harbor by sink- 
ing several large ships in the narrow channel. 

From the Journal of the Chief Engineer at this remarkable 
siege, and from other authentic sources a glimpse is had of the 
indomitable resolution, pluck, tenacity and bulldog determina- 
tion exhibited by the English which eventually crowned their 
labors with success. 

The hardships they sustained were almost inexpressible. 

The earth was everywhere so thin that it was with great 
difficulty the besiegers could cover themselves in their ap- 
proaches. 



THE HAVANA EXPEDITION OF I762. l8l 

There was no spring nor river near them, and water for 
drinking and cooking purposes had to be brought from a great 
distance. Indeed, so scanty and precarious was the supply 
that the army was obliged to have recourse to water from the 
ships. 

One can imagine how vile such water must have become 
after long transport and in such a hot climate. 

Roads for communication had to be cut through thick tropi- 
cal woods, and the artillery had to be dragged many miles 
over a rough rocky shore. A number of men dropped dead 
with heat, thirst and fatigue, but such was the indomitable 
resolution of our people, such the happy and perfect unanimity 
which subsisted between the land and the sea services, that 
no difficulties, no hardships, slackened for a moment the 
operations against this important, strong and well-defended 
place. 

Batteries were, in spite of all difficulties, raised against the 
Moro, and along the hill upon which that fort stood, in order 
to drive the Spanish ships deeper into the harbor and thus 
prevent them from interfering with the siege. 

For a long time the fire maintained by the Spaniards and 
English was near on an equality, and kept up with great vivac- 
ity on both sides. 

On June 29th the Spaniards, who are particularly tenacious 
in defense, were repulsed, with a loss of 220 killed, wounded 
and prisoners, mostly mulattoes and negroes, from which it 
became apparent that they were saving their real Spanish 
troops for more important work. 

On July 1st the British ships of the line, "Cambridge," 80, 
"Dragon," 74, and "Marlborough," 70, sailed in with the sea 
breeze close to the Moro, and opened a furious fire. 

Never did British naval courage show more gloriously. The 
attack was spirited, but unsuccessful. 

The ships came under a fire which was not only a plunging 
one from the Moro, but a raking one from the Town Batteries, 
and finally withdrew, badly shattered, and with a loss of 157, 
killed and wounded. 

On July 3d the great besieging battery took fire from dry- 
ness of the fascines, there having been no rain for two weeks, 



1 82 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

and was totally destroyed. Thus was the labor of seventeen 
days by 500 or 600 men destroyed in a few hours. It was a 
mortifying and dispiriting stroke of misfortune as the hard- 
ships of the siege had become almost insupportable. Yellow 
fever had increased greatly, and what with rigorous service and 
an unwholesome country, bad provisions, bad and insufficient 
water supply, heat and exposure, the army was soon reduced 
by half, and the labors of the remainder doubled. 

No less than 5,000 soldiers and 3,000 sailors were taken 
down of the fevers and distempers prevailing in the lowlands 
of Cuba. 

The hurricane season was nigh at hand, but these indom- 
itable English kept on. New batteries arose in the place of 
the old ones. Their fire soon became equal and then superior 
to the Spanish. 

Eighteen heavy guns played on the works, and when they 
became disabled, as often happened, others were dragged with 
infinite labor to take their places. 

The Spaniards were found to display unexpected bravery ; or, 
as the Journal of the British Chief Engineer says : — 

"The Morro was now found to be tougher work and the Span- 
iards more resolute than was at first imagined." On July 4th 
he records that the reinforcements from America were much 
wished for and much wanted. 

Four hundred marines were now landed with 300 seamen to 
assist at the batteries. 

Stubbornly the English fire was kept up, but as the Span- 
iards had free access to the town, they repaired, by the aid of 
slaves, their batteries, and on July 10, 11 and 12, their fire was 
superior to the English, who then, with unshaken courage, 
began to erect more batteries. 

The sickness greatly increased, and the heat in the blazing 
sun was terrific ; nevertheless, a new four-gun battery of thirty- 
two pounders was opened and annoyed the enemy very much, 
keeping up a continual fire on the fort. 

On July 1 8th the enemy made a sally from the town and 
spiked a three-gun battery, but were quickly repulsed. 



THE HAVANA EXPEDITION OF 1 762. 1 83 

Next day the English Engineers made approaches up to the 
glacis and carried on a sap towards the counterscarp, and on 
July 20th got possession of the covered way. 

Two days later a sally of the Spaniards was repulsed, and 
they lost 400 dead, many wounded, and seventy prisoners. 

In repulsing them Colonel Guy Carleton, now a Brigadier, 
was wounded in the arm. 

Our Chief Engineer in his Journal says, this sallying de- 
tachment of Spaniards "behaved with great treachery, asking 
quarter, seeming to surrender themselves, and then stabbing 
our officers and men as they advanced to receive them. A 
flag of truce was sent in and this was complained of ; they 
took the opportunity to desire to bury their dead, which was 
granted." 

Meanwhile the English engineers kept diligently at work 
with their mines; but our friend, the engineer, adds, "Our 
people were now so reduced by sickness that we had but a 
melancholy prospect." 

On July 28th arrived the first detachment of regulars and 
Provincial Troops from America in eleven transports under 
convoy of the "Intrepid," a sixty-four-gun ship, which left 
New York on June nth. 

While en route four other transports of this detachment and 
a forty-gun ship ran on a key on the Cuba side, at the en- 
trance of Bahama Straits and were stranded an hour before 
daylight on July 24th, and lost, but fortunately all the troops 
were landed. 

Admiral Sir George Pocock sent transports to take off the 
seamen and Provincials, and bring them to Havana. Among 
those thus shipwrecked were Israel Putnam, afterward Senior 
Major-General of the Continental Army of the Revolution, 
but then a Lieutenant-Colonel of the Connecticut Provincial 
Regiment. 

The first detachment which came from New York amounted 
to 1,400 men, under Brigadier-General Burton, and were landed 
on July 26th on the western side to reinforce Colonel Howe, 
whose detachment was scarce able from sickness to defend 
themselves. 



184 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Two days later, on July 30th, about two in the afternoon, 
the mines were sprung which the English engineers had long 
been preparing. 

The one in the counterscarp had a very inconsiderable effect, 
but that in the bastion, having thrown down a part of both 
faces, made a practicable breach. 

An assault was at once ordered, which was led by Lieuten- 
ant Charles Forbes of the Royals. The breach was rapidly 
mounted under heavy fire and the enemy driven from the 
ramparts. 

The brave Don Luis de Velasco made a noble defense, and 
while trying to rally his men was mortally wounded. One 
hundred and thirty Spanish soldiers and several officers were 
killed, 400 were made prisoners. 

The Marquis Gonzales, second in command in the Moro, 
was also killed. The British loss was only two officers and 
30 men killed and wounded. 

The possession of this fort cost 44 days' hard struggle from 
the time the first operations had been begun against it, during 
which the Spaniards lost a thousand men. 

Its capture gave universal joy to the besieging troops. 

On August 2d the second division of transports arrived from 
New York, from whence they had sailed on June 30th. 

While en route, on July 21st, two French ships of the line, 
three frigates and six brigantines and sloops captured five of 
the transports containing 350 regulars of Anstruther's regi- 
ment and 150 Provincials. 

On August 8th the party of Provincials which had been 
wrecked arrived from the Key. 

After the capture of the Moro, no time was lost in attacking 
the town. 

On August 10th a flag was sent in and the city summoned 
to surrender. 

New batteries and field works were erected, and on August 
nth, at daybreak, 45 pieces of heavy artillery and 8 mortars 
opened on the Spaniards. 

Soon the Spanish fort Punta was silenced and a flag of truce 
hung out. A truce was then agreed upon, and two days later, 



THE HAVANA EXPEDITION OF 1 762. 1 85 

on August 13, 1762, Havana capitulated and the British flag was 
hoisted. 

The siege had continued two months and eight days, but the 
American Provincials only got in at the close, the first detach- 
ment having been under fire but fourteen days and the second 
detachment but ten days. 

With the capitulation of the city was surrendered a district 
180 miles to the westward. 

This conquest was, in itself, most considerable, and its con- 
sequences the most decisive. 

It was a military achievement of the highest class, and ex- 
hibited in an enduring light the splendid courage and obstinate 
endurance of the British troops. 

The Spanish fleet of nine sail of the line, taken in the har- 
bor, and the loss of five more in the siege and many merchant 
ships, constituted an almost irreparable loss to that haughty 
monarchy. 

The public plunder taken equalled the produce of a national 
subsidy. 

During the whole siege the British lost 1 1 officers killed 
and 19 wounded ; 279 enlisted men killed and 663 wounded, 
which, with 130 missing and those who died of the fever, 
amounted to 1,799. 

The Provincials lost only seven, killed and wounded, but the 
number who died from disease was appalling. 

The prize money distributed to the army, including Pro- 
vincials, in five dividends, amounted to ^368,092 lis. 6d. 



Every field officer received 
Every Captain received 
Every Lieutenant received 
Every Sergeant received 
Every Corporal received 
Every Private received 

As soon as news of the capture was received in Europe, 
Spain consented to a peace and the preliminaries were signed 



ceived ^86,030 


17s 


2d. 


393 


12 


3K 


129 


3 


6 


81 


6 


sy A 


6 


5 


i% 


4 


15 


8}( 


2 


17 


3Va 



1 86 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

at Fontainebleau, November 3, 1762, and an armistice de- 
clared. 

On November 23, 1762, the Rhode Island and other 
Provincial detachments returned to the Colonies from Cuba, 
broken down by disease and more than decimated by the cli- 
matic fevers. 

Rhode Island had sent 187 men under Lieut.-Col. Christopher 
Hargiil. 

Eleven companies went from Connecticut under Colonel 
Phineas Lyman, with Israel Putman as Lieutenant-Colonel. In 
a diary kept during the siege by a Chaplain with the Connecti- 
cut Provincials, their number is given as 917. 

Many names subsequently distinguished in the Revolution 
are found among these officers. 

Roger Enos, Adjutant of the Connecticut regiment, after- 
ward Colonel of a Connecticut volunteer regiment. 

John Durkee, afterward Colonel 4th Regiment, Connecticut 
Continental Infantry of the Revolution, who died in service in 
1782. 

Elihu Humphrey, long a Captain of Connecticut Contin- 
entals. 

Zebulon Butler, a Captain of the 7th Company, and after- 
ward Colonel 5th Regiment Connecticut Continental Line. 

Thomas Knowlton, a Second Lieutenant, who gave his life 
later on Harlem Heights, New York City, in September, 1776, 
when commanding the Rangers of General Washington's Army. 

In looking over the rolls of these Connecticut companies we 
can estimate the extent of the losses in other regiments. 

The 1 st Company had 134 privates of whom 34 died in 
service. 

The 2d Company had 106 men of whom 75, or about two- 
thirds, died. 

The 3d Company had 93 men, 29 deaths. 

The 4th Company had 91 men, 37 deaths. 

The 5 th Company had 90 men, 40 deaths. 

The 6th Company had 80 men, 24 deaths. 

The 7th Company had 59 men, 31 deaths. 

The 8th Company had 91 men, 26 deaths. 



THE HAVANA EXPEDITION OF 1 762. 1 87 

The 9th Company had 92 men, 37 deaths. 
The 10th Company did not go. 
The nth Company had 89 men, deaths not given. 
The 12th Company had 76 men, 41 deaths. 

The frightful losses experienced by the British-American 
forces in this eventful campaign are well illustrated in this 
table of Connecticut casualties. 

In the regular British Army the 17th Foot, which had been 
a strong regiment, returned to New York with but 100 
effectives. 

On December 13, 1762, a British officer at Havana wrote 
concerning its capture, of which the following is an extract : — 

" We are in possession of the largest and most valuable part 
of the Island. * * * 

The Spanish inhabitants are curious about nothing ; they 
are lazy and indolent ; and if the island did not produce almost 
spontaneously, they would be without the necessaries of life. 
There is nothing in the shape of a garden, either for pleasure 
or use, in this large city, which contains about 40,000 inhabit- 
ants. Their common amusement is smoking segars and lolling 
in a calash drawn by one sorry mule, with a huge negro on his 
back and another behind the calash ; in this manner they drive 
along at the rate of about two miles an hour; and whenever the 
Ave-Maria bell rings, they all stop and go to prayers, negroes, 
mules and Spaniards. 

As to the ladies, they are mostly of the hue of the fairer 
Mulattoes in Carolina, some a good deal whiter, and many not 
so fair. They wear their hair without caps, and dress much in 
the squaw fashion ; their garb is commonly a shift and some 
petticoats, (no stays), and a loose wrapper over their shoulders, 
whereby they become round-shouldered, and are entirely with- 
out that delicate taper waist which I so much admire in my 
fair country-women. People who can converse with them say 
they are very ignorant, and few of them have any smartness; 
most of them smoke segars and spit much, even when they do 
not smoke, which gives room for several conjectures. They 



155 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

are very shy in company, and will scarce allow their hand to be 
touched. 

As to our government here, it is entirely military. * * * 
We have neither lawyers nor law suits. Among us it is sic 
volo, sicjubeo. 

We have no Sunday among the English ; as for the natives, 
they have Sunday every day, they are continually saying mass 
and carrying the Madonna round the town at night with two 
or three lanthorns under her petticoats. 

We open a theatre to-morrow night, which exhibits once a 

week, Captain and some others, chief actors and 

managers." 

As before remarked the capture of Havana and contiguous 
territory compelled the Spanish Government to sue for peace. 

Had it not been for the services of the Provincial regiments 
of Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, 
who were almost wholly native born Americans, the siege 
would have had to be raised. Their presence therefore, con- 
tributed to one of the most substantial and decisive victories 
of the last century. 

The bones of hundreds of them lie in Cuban soil, unknown, 
uncared for, but the achievement in which they assisted pro- 
cured peace and brought the entire Continent of North 
America under the English-speaking race. France relin- 
quished all her rights in Canada and in the Mississippi. Spain 
relinquished Florida, and the Spanish seas were no longer 
claimed by that bigoted, cruel, and arbitrary power as the ex- 
clusive domain of Spain under the gift of the Pope. 

The preliminaries of Fontainebleau were the dawn of a new 
era. The American Provincials taught the art of war and reg- 
ular discipline by the war then ended, were soon to assert 
themselves in defense of principles which appealed to the 
judgment of mankind, and after an eight years war, from the 
Battle of Lexington in 1775, were to rise as an independent 
sovereignty in the family of nations and eventually become one 
of the mighty powers of the earth. 

To our forefathers the war at the time was distressing, but 



THE OLD PROVIDENCE THEATRE. 1 89 

it brought them together, shoulder to shoulder, and taught 
them their power when united. 

History, it has been said, repeats itself, and whoever has fol- 
lowed the movements of the American army in Cuba, which 
have terminated in the capture of Santiago and the Spanish 
forces defending that coast, can perceive that the Americans 
have experienced the same trials and difficulties, but it is to be 
hoped not to the same extent the losses from diseases which 
our ancestors experienced in the campaigns against Spain of 
1 74 1 and 1762. 



The Old Providence Theatre. 

By Henry L. Greene. 



Amateur performances were sometimes given in this old 
building and their financial proceeds devoted to charitable 
objects. In this connection the following letters will be 
found interesting. They were written by Christopher Rhodes 
Greene to his parents and were addressed to his father, the 
late Hon. Job Greene, Greeneville (now Centreville), Warwick. 

"Providence Bank, 21st Octo. 1807. 
"About three weeks since several young gentlemen of the 
first respectability in Town associated themselves (and as- 
sumed the name of the Thespian Club,) for the purpose of im- 
proving themselves in public speaking. This Society which 
has been undertaken with universal approbation, and whose 
first exhibition (on last Monday evening,) was crowned with 
universal applause, owes its existence to the spirited exertions 
of Benj' Page Jr Esq and the less meritorious exertions of 
your son. 



190 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

"The Tragedy of Douglas, a tragedy replete with sound 
morality, the most touching pathos, the most devoted filial 
affection, glowing with all the fire of genius, and embellished 
with all the graces of poetry was judiciously selected for our 
first exhibition. As there is no other place in Town adapted 
to exhibitions of this kind, we were compelled from urgent 
necessity to make use of the theatre. From this circum- 
stance I was apprehensive that an incorrect account of our 
exhibition might reach you and I have thought proper to give 
you a general outline of our plan, and the benevolent objects 
of our institution. In order to have a select and respectable 
audience it was necessary that the tickets should be sold, and 
the money arising from such sales after defraying the inci- 
dental expenses of the exhibition is to be distributed to relieve 
the distresses of the poor of the Town. There were about 
three hundred people present at the Theatre on Monday even- 
ing and the amount of our expenses exceeded one hundred 
dollars. The balance received, about fifty dollars, remains 
for the purpose above mentioned. 

"The part of Old Norval was taken by me. It was very 
pathetic and was so spoken as to gain not only the custom- 
ary applause of clapping of hands, but that high applause of 
the heart which is more sincerely expressed by tears." 

Evidently the young man, he was then just twenty-one, 
doubted the approval of his parents in appearing on the stage 
of a theatre, hence the above rather apologetic letter. His 
next letter proved the correctness of his anticipations. 

"Providence 10 November 1807 
"I have this moment received your affectionate epistle of 
the 8th filled with the tenderest solicitude as to the conse- 
quences which might in your opinion result from my exhibit- 
ing in public. ' Recitation is indeed a fascinating art ; and 
under due restriction it improves the organs of speech, enables 
the possessor to express himself with elegance and precision, 
promotes ease in conversation and manners, expands the mind 
and elevates the soul.' 



THE OLD PROVIDENCE THEATRE. I9I 

" To acquire in an innocent manner accomplishments so 
elegant, so useful, so noble, so worthy of a rational being, and 
which would enable us at the same time to do those deeds 
of charity which angels must smile to behold, were the laud- 
able and benevolent motives which induced us to come before 
the public. They must I think obtain the approbation of every 
mind capable of feeling, of thinking, of reasoning with just- 
ness or impartiality, of every heart capable of perceiving the 
beauty of moral rectitude, or of enjoying the delightful sen- 
sations that result from the performance of virtuous actions. 
Such being their motives can any one who is acquainted with 
the individual characters of The Thespian Club, entertain a 
single fearful apprehension that they will for a moment de- 
viate from the path of rectitude or be drawn into dissipation, 
depravity or ruin ? Can the art which displays the beauty of 
virtue and exposes the deformity of vice in a manner so deeply 
impressive, be productive of consequences so pernicious and 
destructive ? Consult your own heart as I have mine, and 
you will not long deliberate for a conclusion. 

"The Club I believe will not exhibit more than once more. 
You were mistaken when you said that Capt Page was a 
member. It is a son of his. A son of Col Wm Peck, Mar- 
shal of R. I., and W. R. Danforth Esq, Clerk of the Supreme 
Jud' Court are also members. 

"I shall soon send for your perusal Rev Mr Home's tragedy 
of Douglas 'a performance which as long as classical elegance 
shall be admired, or the feelings of humanity exist, as long 
as virtue or religion shall have an interest in the heart of 
man, will retain its station in the first rank of dramatic liter- 
ature.' What mother is there who would not wish her son to 
resemble the truly excellent amiable, affectionate and heroic 
Young Norval ? Virtue so exalted and amiable, filial affection 
so ardent and sincere do not simply gain the cold assent of 
the understanding but they irresistibly command the entire 
approbation, the enthusiastic admiration of the heart and 
soul. 'For,' says Dr Blair, i we must love what is amiable!' 

"Your affectionate son 

"Chris r R. Greene" 



192 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



WHO WERE THE RHODE ISLAND SOLDIERS 
OF THE HAVANA EXPEDITION OF 1762 ? 



The interesting and valuable paper read before the Histor- 
ical society at its last July quarterly meeting by the Hon. Asa 
Bird Gardiner, LL. D., and printed in this issue of its publica- 
tion, awakened much interest to know the names of the Rhode 
Island officers and men that took part in the Havana Expedi- 
tion of 1762. With the view of obtaining the desired informa- 
tion for the benefit of the citizens of the State, His Excellency, 
Elisha Dyer, addressed our ambassador in London, the Hon. 
John Hay, a letter of inquiry, the result of which appears in 
the following correspondence : — 

American Embassy, London, August 29th, 1898. 
Sir, 

With reference to your letter of 7th ultimo relative to the 
contingent furnished by the Colony of Rhode Island in 1762 
for the British expedition to Havana in that year, I have the 
honour to enclose herewith for your information copies of two 
notes which I have received from the Foreign Office on that 
subject, and from which you will observe that, for reasons 
therein set forth, there are no pay lists nor muster rolls among 
the archives of the War Office at the Public Record Office. 

Should any further information reach me as a result of the 
inquiries now being made at the Colonial Office, I shall lose 
no time in sending it to you. 

I have the honour to be, 
Sir, 

Your obedient servant, 
To John Hay. 

His Excellency 

The Hon ble Elisha Dyer, 

Governor of Rhode Island. 



R. I. SOLDIERS, HAVANA EXPEDITION OF 1 762. 1 93 

[COPY.] 

Foreign Office, August 4, 1898. 
Your Excellency, 

I duly referred to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for War 
the request, contained in your note of the 18th ultimo, for in- 
formation as to the names of the Officers and Men of the Con- 
tingent furnished by the Colony of Rhode Island for the Ha- 
vana Expedition of 1762. 

I have now received a letter from the War Office, stating 
that the subject is receiving every attention, but that it is very 
doubtful whether the required information can be obtained. 

I have the honour to be, &c, 

(Signed) Salisbury. 

His Excellency 

The Honourable John Hay, 

&c, &c, &c. 

[copy.] 

Foreign Office, August 22, 1898. 
Your Excellency, 

In continuation of the Note which I had the honour to ad- 
dress to you on the 4th instant, concerning the names of the 
Officers and Men of the Contingent furnished by the Colony 
of Rhode Island for the Havana Expedition of 1762, I beg 
leave to inform you that I learn from the Secretary of State 
for War that after a search in the Records of the War Office, 
it has been discovered that the " Rhode Island Provincials " 
were a Colonial corps paid out of Colonial funds, and this 
being so there are no Pay Lists or Muster Rolls, et cetera, 
concerning them in the War Office documents which are pre- 
served at the Public Record Office. 

As it is not unlikely that the required information may be 
contained in the Colonial correspondence for the period, Lord 
Lansdowne has caused the matter to be referred to the Colo- 
nial Office, together with a copy of the enclosed statement, 
which contains all the information on the subject in the pos- 
session of the War Office. 



194 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

I shall not fail to communicate to Your Excellency the 
result of the enquiries instituted by the Colonial Office. 
I have the honour to be, &c, 

(For the Marquis of Salisbury) 

(Signed) F. H. Villiers. 
His Excellency 

The Honourable John Hay, 

&c, &c, &c. 

[copy.] 
RHODE ISLAND PROVINCIALS. 

In the " N. American Correspondence 1758 to 1764," there 
is a letter from Sir Jeffrey Amherst, Commander-in-Chief in 
North America, dated New York, 12th May, 1762, in which 
he forwards a List shewing the "State of the Provincial 
Troops for the year 1762."* This List is a numerical one only, 
and shews that the Province of Rhode Island " Voted to be 
Raised" 666 Troops, of whom 207 were for the Havana Expe- 
dition, and 459 for " Crown point, Niagara, Oswego, and the 
other posts to the Westward." 

A later letter dated 20th July, 1762, forwards a Duplicate 
list of the Transports for the first Division, dated New York 
June, 1762, which shews that 30 Rhode Islanders were em- 
barked on the "Boscawen" (Master's name Forbes), 137 on 
the "Three Sisters" (Master's name Maltby) and that the 
remaining 40 Rhode Islanders were put on board either the 
"Intrepid" or "Chesterfield" Man-of-War. 

In none of Sir Jeffrey Amherst's letters are any of the 
Rhode Islanders mentioned by name. 

Note. — Presumably these troops were paid by the colony, 
and therefore no pay lists would be forwarded to this country. 



To the Editor: — 

In the July number of the Rhode Island Historical Society's 
quarterly (p. 80) are queries as to the location of Fenner's 
Square and of Theodore Foster's office in 1786. Fenner's 



EDITORIAL NOTES AND CULLINGS. 195 

Square was the land bounded by North Main Street, Market 
Square, North Water (now Canal) Street, and a gangway. 
[Record of Deeds in City Record Office, vol. 48, p. 10.] 

Theodore Foster's office, according to an advertisement in 
the United States Chronicle of July 13, 1786, was on Westmin- 
ster Street, opposite his residence, which was at the northeast 
corner of Westminster Street and what is now Eddy Street. 
[Record of Deeds, vol. 30, p. 202.] 

Clarence S. Brigham. 
Brown University, 
Sept. 12, 1898. 



EDITORIAL NOTES AND CULLINGS. 



INFORMATION WANTED. 

Mr. Louis Hasbrouck Von Sakler, of Van Deusen, Berk- 
shire County, Mass., has addressed the following inquiries to 
the Rhode Island Historical Society : — 

" Can you identify the following-mentioned islands ? Colo- 
nial Documents of New York, I., 565, 'Abraham Pieterssen of 
Haarlem took possession of the island of Ouetenis, in front of 
Sloops Bay, for the Dutch West India Company in 1636;' 
II., 134, 'Similar to the preceding — Island of Oueteurs, in 
front of Sloops Bay and Pequators River; ' II., 409, ' Special 
possession of Abraham Pietersen of Harrlem, still living, hath 
on the island of Quetenesse, in Narricanese Bay, near Rhode 
Island, and again on another island, above and about the Pe- 
quot River, called by the English— The Dutchman's Island.' 
Any information and an early answer will be fully appre- 
ciated." The volumes referred to are in the society's library, 
and can be consulted by persons interested. 

CORRECTION. 

In the obituary notice of Prof. John Pierce, Vol. VI.. p. 56, 
10th line from foot, read "hand telephone," instead of "word 
telephone." 



196 



RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



List of the Vessels, their Description and Tonnage, Be- 
longing to the Port of Providence the 
20th Day of June, 1791. 



No. 
I 
2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 
8 

9 
10 
1 1 



13- 

14. 

i5- 
16. 

17- 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 

23- 

24. 

25- 

26. 
27. 
28. 
29. 

3°- 
3 r - 
3 2 - 
33- 
34- 
35- 
36. 
37- 
38- 
39- 
40. 
41. 
42. 

43- 
44. 

45- 
46. 



Vessels Full tonnage < 
Described. 95th parts. 

14 



958 
348 
280 
250 
230 
159 



By Whom Owned. 

Messrs. Brown & Francis Ship 

do. do. 

do. do. 

do. do. 

Messrs. Clarke & Nightingale. . • do. 

do. . . • do. 

Messrs. Brown & Benson do 186 

do. do 208 

Mr. Cyprian Sterrey do 161 

do. do 137 

Messrs. Jos. & Wm. Russell do 146 

Messrs. Brown, Rogers & Brown, do 160 

3< 22 7 

Brown & Benson Brig 163 

do. do 162 

Messrs. Philip & Z. Allen do 166 

do. do 117 

do. do no 

Welcome Arnold do in 

do. do 101 

do. do 168 

Messrs. Brown & Benson do 160 

Thos. Loyd Halsey do 141 

do. do 104 

do. do 151 

William Holuroyd do 129 

John Corlis do 130 

do do 103 

Edward Thurber do 161 

Joseph & Wm. Russell do 120 

James Graves do 78 

Mowry Smith do 90 

Messrs. Young & Brown do 112 

Gideon Bailey do 126 

Messrs. Fenner & White do 92 

Stephen Dexter do 107 

•- 139 

.. 80 

.. 86 

.. 99 

.. 115 

.. 97 



do. do. 

Messrs. Brown & Francis do. 



do. 



do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 



Messrs. Clarke & Nightingale . 

do. 

do. 

Joseph Martin do 

Messrs. Treadwell & Soule do 140 

Messrs. Wards & Brothers do 160 

Abijah Potter do. 130 

Messrs. Brown & Francis do 83 



28 
7i 
57 

24 
*9 
37 

73 



Vessels' Names. 
Pres. Washington. 
Gen'l Washington. 

Warren. 

Hope. 

Providence. 

Lark. 

Hope. 

Hammilton. 

Enterprize. 

Betsey. 

Tristam. 

Union (Sold). 



3* 

66 Commerce. 

73 Rising Sun. 

56 Abigail. 

90 Lydia. 

90 Nancy. 

17 Rebeckah. 

93 Neptune. 

75 Harriott. 

8 Harmony. 

77 Fanny. 

Sally. 

30 Harriott. 

72 Friendship. 

Liberty. 

Sukey. 

21 M ary. 

Ranger. 

26 Betsey. 

33 Nancy. 

51 Betsey. 

19 Sally. 

31 Clinton. 

36 Betsey. 

Dolphin. 

86 Mercury. 

55 Sophia. 

84 Prudent. 

21 Polly. 

54 Chance. 

Betsey. 

Paramaribo. 

Tismigistus. 

Fame. 

19 Friendship. 



4,128 48 



THE HAVANA EXPEDITION OF 1 762. 2IO, 

so that it became to us a pleasant, educational home, and when 
we, who remain, look back upon the days we passed there, a 
flood of happy recollections rush in upon us, and in our mem- 
ories we live again our youthful experiences and recall our 
former innocent pleasures and delights. And now to the dear 
old boys and girls, whose youthful forms this pleasing task has 
brought before my mental vision, and who have seemed to be 
really present among my hearers, I must say " Good night, 
sweethearts. The school's dismissed." 



HAVANA EXPEDITION OF 1762. 



Rhode Island Contingent Thereof. 

Since the publication in the October Quarterly, 1898 (p. 192), 
of a correspondence relating to the above subject, the following 
communications have been received and are hereby submitted 
to our readers : — 

State of Rhode Island, &c, 

Executive Department, 
Providence, October 15, 1898. 
nos Perry, Secretary, 
<£hode Island Historical Society, 
Providence, R. I. 
ar Sir : I beg leave to enclose letter from the Hon. 
,ry White in relation to the names of officers and men who 
med a contingent furnished by Rhode Island to the British 
xpedition of 1762 to Havana. 

I presume this is in reply to the letter which I sent you 
sometime in July last. 

Very respectfully, 

Elisha Dyer, 

Governor. 



: ? 



^ I $1 1 



220 rhode island historical society. 

American Embassy, London, 
September 27th, 1898. 
Sir, 

With reference to Mr. Hay's letter of August 27th, in reply- 
to yours of July 7th last, I have the honour to transmit to your 
Excellency copies of notes which we have received from the 
Marquis of Salisbury relative to the names of the officers and 
men who formed the contingent furnished by Rhode Island to 
the British Expedition of 1762 to Havana. 

Upon the receipt of Lord Salisbury's note of 24th instant 
I at once communicated with Mr. B. F. Stevens, a copy of 
whose reply I also enclose, together with the Memorial of 
Colonel Christopher Hargill, referred to therein, which I trust 
will be of interest to you. 

I much regret that this Embassy has been unable to obtain 
the information concerning the history of our State for which 
you asked. 

I have the honor to be, 

Your Excellency's obedient servant, 
Henry White. 
To his Excellency, 

The Hon. Elisha Dyer, 

Governor of Rhode Island. 



[copy.] 

Foreign Office, 

September 6, 1898. 
Your Excellency, 

With reference to my Note of the 22nd ultimo I have the 
honour to inform you that I learn from the Secretary of State 
for the Colonies that a volume in the Record Offic eentitled 
"Havannah 1762-63" containing the correspondence con- 
nected with the capture of that city has been referred to, but 
though the Rhode Island Contingent of Two hundred and 
seven men is mentioned in it collectively, no names are given. 
Two other volumes entitled "Rhode Island 1762-67" and 



THE HAVANA EXPEDITION OF 1 762. 



221 



" I 698-1 782 " have also been searched, but do not contain any- 
thing relating to this subject. 

As however forty of these troops appear to have been 
shipped on two men of war, the " Intrepid " and the " Chester- 
field," the muster books for 1762 of these ships might, Mr. 
Chamberlain suggests, if they have been preserved, furnish 
some of the names required. 

An enquiry has accordingly been addressed to the Admir- 
alty, the result of which I shall have much pleasure in com- 
municating to your Excellency. 
I have the honour to be, 

with the highest consideration, 

Your Excellency's most obedient, 
humble servant, 

(For the Marquess of Salisbury) 
(Sgd.) Martin Gosselin. 



His Excellency, 

The Honourable 
John Hay, 
&c, 



&c, 



&c. 



[copy.] 



Foreign Office, 
September 24, 1898. 
Sir, 

In continuation of the Note which I had the honour to 
address to Mr. Hay on the 6th instant, I now beg leave to ac- 
quaint you with the results of the enquiry instituted by the 
Admiralty respecting the contingent furnished by the State of 
Rhode Island to the Havana Expedition in 1762. 

The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty are informed 
by the Public Record Office that no Pay Lists or Muster Rolls 
of the Provincial troops who took part in this expedition are 
preserved, and beyond the fact that certain "Provincial 
Troops " were carried on the " Chesterfield " and " Intrepid," 
the logs of those vessels give no more specific information. 



222 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

An attempt has been made to identify the detachment of 
Rhode Island Provincials from any allusions or references con- 
tained in the Colonial and Military correspondence of the 
period, but without success. 

No private collection of papers is known which would be 
likely to give the information required except the manuscripts 
of the Royal Institution in Albemarle Street, and with regard 
to these the Public Record Office suggest that reference might 
with advantage be made to Mr. B. F. Stevens, the American 
despatch Agent and well-known expert, who is believed to have 
made a complete examination of their contents. 

The Record Office add that there can be little doubt that 
Sir Jeffrey Amherst was furnished with more or less detailed 
lists of these Provincial troops by the Colonial Governors, but 
as they were paid by their respective States the original Pay 
Lists would not have been preserved amongst the War Office 
Records. 

I have the honour to be, 

with the highest consideration, Sir, 

Your most obedient, humble servant, 

(Sgd.) Salisbury. 
Henry White, Esq. 

&c, &c, &c. 



[copy.] 

United States Government Despatch Agenv i . 
4, Trafalgar Square, W. C, 

London, 27 September, 189S 
Hon. Henry White, 

American Charge^ d' Affaires, 

123, Victoria Street, S. W. 
Dear Mr. White : I have received your letter of this date 
and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to see this ex- 
ceedingly interesting correspondence with reference to the 
Rhode Island soldiers employed on the Havana Expedition of 
1762. 



THE HAVANA EXPEDITION OF 1 762. 223 

My own notes upon the American Manuscripts in the 
Record Office do not show fuller information than that already 
communicated to you through the Foreign Office. 

The papers in the Royal Institution are the Headquarter's 
papers of the British Commanders-in-Chief, Generals Howe, 
Clinton and Carleton, and of course these papers of the Revo- 
lution are of a much later date, being from 1775 to 1783. 

I exceedingly regret that I cannot suggest any likely place 
where the names in detail of Lieut. Colonel Christopher Har- 
gill, two Captains and subordinate officers, and 207 enlisted 
soldiers can be found. 

In my search to-day I have found a memorial of Hargill to 
General Sir Guy Carleton dated in 1783 which is a very curious 
item of Rhode Island history and I take pleasure in inclosing a 
copy for the acceptance of the Governor of Rhode Island. 
William Wanton who signed the certificate at the end of the 
Memorial was the Governor of Rhode Island. I return the 
several papers herewith. 

Always yours faithfully, 

(sd) B. F. Stevens. 

To His Excellency General Sir Guy Carleton, Knight of the 
Most Hondrable Order of the Bath, Commander in Chief, &c., 
St., &c. 

] e Memorial of Christopher Hargill Humbly sheweth, 

our Memorialist having already had the honor of rep- 
g to Your Excellency under the 18th of September 
nat the respectable Rank he held the last War as Major 
:i Regiment of Provincials raised by the Colony of Rhode 
nd, serving at the reduction of Canada, and as Lieut, 
jlonel at the Siege & conquest of the Havannah rendered 
lim from his refusal to take any appointment in the Troops 
raised by that Colony in the late War with Great Britain an 
Object of suspicion, and the avowal of his Disapprobation of 
those measures brought upon him the Resentment of the As- 
sembly, who banished him into the Interiour parts of the Col- 
ony, and for a Considerable time confined him in a Jail. He 
now further begs leave to represent, that the subsistence which 



224 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

has been granted by the bounty of Government to your 
Memorialist of a Dollar a Day, has been essentially serviceable 
in relieving him from many wants which he Otherwise must 
have Experienced. But as your Memorialist is Advanced in 
Life, and as his Constitution is greatly impaired ; He Humbly 
requests Permission in consideration of his former services, as 
well as his sufferings in the Cause of Government, to represent 
to your Excellency, That his subsistence has with the greatest 
Oeconomy been scarcely sufficient to defray the Expences of 
his Board &c. and as he Intends for Nova Scotia, he therefore 
Humbly Pray's your Excellency will be pleased to allow such 
a proportion thereof to be advanced him, as your Excellency 
may think suitable and proper, to defray the expences he must 
unavoidably incur to render himself comfortable, and as in 
Duty bound he will ever Pray. 

Chistopher Hargill. 

New York, June 2nd, 1783. 

The Facts containd in this Memorial are true, and I do 
verily believe the Memorialist to merit a further [Allowance] 
from Government ; and for that Purpose I do presume to 
recommend Him. 

William Wan 

New York, 3d June, 178 [3]. 



EDITORIAL NOTES AND CULLINGS. 

civil service reform sought in these plantations a 
century and a half ago. 

The following copy of a draft to amend the law concerning 
the election of Justices of the Peace, and other commissioned 
officers, was found in the ledger marked "John Angel His 
Book," which was preserved by Moses Brown and given to this 
society with other papers in 1897. There is nothing to indi- 
cate the authorship of the proposed amendment. By referring 






LEFe '06 



